Movie Prom Clichés: From Makeovers to Hidden Agendas

Our example: Truth is, She's All That's Laney Boggs is more artsy than geeky, but who can forget the transformation when she ditches the oversize glasses and steps out in her prom dress?

Also seen in: Mean Girls, Whatever It Takes, Never Been Kissed

Our example: Whether or not they plan to go together, the good-girl leading lady and her bad-boy crush usually end up together at prom. In Twilight, Bella goes with the ultimate bad boy — a vampire.

Also seen in: Drive Me Crazy, The Spectacular Now, 10 Things I Hate About You, Prom

Our example: In Blockers, all three of the main characters decide they're going to lose their virginities on prom night. Not everyone does, but . . . why prom night? Are teen movie characters only allowed to have sex for the first time on the night of high school dances?!

Also seen in: Prom Night, What Women Want, Love, Rosie

Our example: According to movies, there's no better time to air dirty laundry, apologize, or admit who you really are than on stage at the prom. When Cady gets crowned queen in Mean Girls, she uses her time in the spotlight to apologize for the burn book and tell the rest of the girls that they deserve to be queens, too.

Also seen in: Never Been Kissed, American Pie

Our example: After the mean girls try to trick her geeky friend, Josie Geller in Never Been Kissed ends up revealing her true identity in the middle of the dance floor. Nothing like the prom queen saying "I'm 25 years old and an undercover reporter" to really blindside a room full of students. Surprise!

Also seen in: Mean Girls, Carrie, Saved!

Our example: Based on movies, you'd think that placing bets and deals on prom dates was a regular thing. In 10 Things I Hate About You, Kat finds out at the prom that Patrick was paid to bring her to the dance. Ouch.

Also seen in: Whatever It Takes, She's All That

Our example: Unless there's a song like "Cha Cha Slide" playing, it's probably not likely that an entire senior class will break out in dance together — but movies like Footloose definitely make you think otherwise.

Also seen in: She's All That, Grease

Our example: With a boat on stage and iceberg decorations, the prom theme in Whatever It Takes is "Titanic Dreams" . . . because everyone wishes they'd been on the Titanic, right?

Also seen in: American Pie